Top 10 gadgets to add to your Christmas list

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I’m telling you why. All the latest in electronic wizardry is coming to town.

Ok, so it’s not quite as catchy as the original, but there’s no questioning our insatiable appetite for the latest gadgets and gizmos – particularly at this time of year. Whether you’re a millennial who has never known a time without smartphones, the internet and apps, or a more mature individual who is just opening up to a new world of technology, the latest electronic devices are becoming more and more dominant on your average letter to Santa Claus.

According to 2017 research into the average individual spend on Christmas gifts per person (in GBP), consumer electronics placed third behind toys in second, and clothes and footwear in first. However, with an increasing number of toys featuring connectivity features, and the rise in smart clothing and wearables, you could argue that electronics have a key role to play in each of these top sectors.

As November slowly rolls around into December and the morning frost starts to form, many people will be settling down to compile their Christmas wish list. Therefore, we have scoured the market to see what will be the must-have tech for 2018.

10. MindInsoleA prime example of tech infiltrating the clothing and footwear market, the team at MindInsole have created a foot insole that combines ancient reflexology techniques with modern magnetic technology to deliver 400 different acupoints of relief for your feet.

This magnetic massage insole is designed to relax your muscles and is effective in the treatment of chronic lumbar sprains. At the same time, it can improve blood circulation, eliminate foot odour, foot heat, and reduce nerve pain and pressure. Reduce the pain in your lower back, rheumatism, and strengthen the meridians.

Depleting smart device battery is an annoyance that we can all sympathise with. Depending on how old the device is you may be in a situation where you have to charge it more than once per day.

EnergixCharge is an ultra-thin wireless charging pad that also comes with an adaptor that you can use for any of your devices that are not wireless charge capable. The adaptor is so thin that it can fit underneath any case. Once the adaptor is attached your phone is instantly transformed into a wireless charging device. Energix also works with all major phone models including Apple, Android, LG, HTC, and Motorola.

WiFi ‘dead zones’ are the bane of many family homes, with often the only solution being to pay more for increased bandwidth or to put up with the constant frustration of dropping WiFi signal.

The Super Boost WiFi was developed from a military technology called ‘signal repeater transmission’. This is the same type of technology that you may have all heard about during the heroic rescue of the Thai football team that was trapped in a cave. One of the problems was that the solid rock walls of the caves blocked all radio transmission, but an Israeli super-high-tech company developed a system that allowed many walkie-talkies to capture and boost a weak signal so that it could travel all the way through the cave to all the rescue divers.

Resembling a tiny plug, you take the Super Boost WiFi to any electric outlet in your home where you have weak signal problems.

Lack of sleep is a common problem that many people suffer from. This can now be eased with the new Dodow sleep aid that retrains your brain to fall asleep on its own. It sits on your nightstand and slowly projects a rhythmic glow on your ceiling that’s perfect for putting you to sleep.

XY Find It allows you to find lost items from up to 300ft away using Crowd GPS technology. Just attach the coin-sized XY4+ to any item – your keys, your wallet, a purse, your car, or even your dog – and the free XY Find It app will find it in seconds.

However, what if you can’t use the app because your phone is missing? User can press the XY4+ to make your phone ring - even if it’s on silent. The XY4+ allows you to find locally misplaced items while the XY GPS helps find items globally.

Advancements in automotive technology have made our lives so much easier. However, dashboard GPS systems mean that we occasionally still have to take our eyes off the road, increasing the danger of an accident.

There’s now there’s a safer way to get where you’re going. By simply placing your phone on VIZR – a ‘head up display’ (or HUD) solution that takes the same tech fighter pilots use to stay focused and brings it to your car’s dashboard.

With a transparent display that grips to your dashboard and a huge selection of phone apps to help you view GPS, traffic conditions, speedometer and street maps, you’ll never have to take your eyes off the road.

While a thermostat may not seem like the most exciting Christmas gift, it may save the recipient some money. An inflated energy bill can always be an unwelcome post-Christmas delivery. However, with the Nest Thermostat you can change the temperature with the app on your smartphone, tablet or laptop - or just use your voice with your home assistant.

The Nest Thermostat E is all set with a simple schedule to help you save from day one. It knows when everyone has left the house, then turns itself down so that you're not heating an empty home.

Sphero Mini fits a huge experience into a tiny robot the size of a ping pong ball and also uses a first-of-its-kind feature that uses facial recognition technology to drive the ball – as well as gaming and coding. Packed with tiny tech, the Sphero Mini has a gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights that glow in millions of colours. Colourful, interchangeable shells are available, so you can easily switch one out to suit your mood.

Included with Sphero Mini are three mini traffic cones and six mini bowling pins to inspire some fun right out of the box.

I certainly remember receiving Meccano for Christmas in years gone by. Now the renowned brand name is taking things to the next level with the Maccano Max. Unlike anything else Meccano has created, M.A.X. combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with fully customisable programming. The result is a one-of-a-kind robot of your own creation. Budding engineers, innovators and creators can expand their knowledge of programming as they personalise this robot to their specifications.

Once built, M.A.X measures 12” tall and is controlled using voice commands, buttons on the MeccaBrain, or the free app. You’ll know exactly what it's thinking based on its expressive facial graphics. As a STEM robotics platform, M.A.X is designed to engage children in intellectually stimulating play, drawing on their knowledge.

For the chef in your family the June Chef could really ease that Christmas day ‘cooking for 13’ type stress. June Oven functions as a personal sous chef, boasting seven appliances in one: convection oven, air fryer, dehydrator, slow cooker, broiler, toaster, and warming drawer. With its smart technology, all you need to do is program how you'd like your steak, cake, or potatoes cooked, and it gets right to it.

Every June Oven is individually calibrated for the best cooking results and its thermometer ensures that your food will be cooked to your desired doneness. It can fit up to a 12x16" pan, 12lb turkey, and 12" pizza - with a 1.0ft³ capacity.

You can use your phone to cook with your oven, watch a live video of your food, check the ETA and be notified when your meal is ready. The oven also features easy to follow, step-by-step video recipes.

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